Governor Abbott Announces Three Companies Moving to Texas

AUSTIN, TX Governor Greg Abbott announces that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) is relocating its U.S. headquarters from New York to Texas, that SATA Group, a high-tech components manufacturer, will be constructing a new machine plant in Brownsville, Texas, and that Jamba, Inc. will be relocating its headquarters from Emeryville, California, to Frisco, Texas.

"Texas is home to around 1,200 MHI Group employees and we are honored that they have chosen Houston for their new U.S. headquarters," said Abbott. "In Texas, free enterprise flourishes thanks to our low taxes, reasonable regulations and right-to-work laws, and I look forward to Texas' continued growth as a North American hub for global trade and investment."

Houston currently hosts the headquarters and manufacturing plants for two other MHI Group companies, MHI Compressor International Corporation and Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America, Inc. The Greater Houston area is home to the sales and service bases of MHI's Environmental & Chemical Plant Division. MHI's Oil & Gas Business Development Department also has a base in Houston.

"I am delighted that we have been able to set up a new base in Houston to better serve our customers and oversee our Group operations in North America," said MHI President and CEO Shunichi Miyanaga. "As a city with a heavy concentration of cutting-edge industries, Houston holds great promise as a key driver of America's economic development long into the future."

SATA Group Project In Brownsville is expected to create 300 jobs and generate $114 million in capital investment in the Texas economy. A Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) offer of $1.8 million has been extended to SATA Group.

"Texas continues to be an economic powerhouse thanks to an environment and government that encourages business growth by limiting taxes, regulations and bureaucracy," said Abbott. "I am proud that SATA Group has chosen to expand in the Rio Grande Valley, bringing high-quality jobs to a region that is vital to the growth of our state. The best thing a government can do to create jobs and prosperity is get out of the way of employers, and as Governor, I will continue to pursue policies that do just that."

"Our level of quality and superior manufacturing productivity created a global demand for our machined products and services," said Pietro Cinotto, Vice President of SATA USA. "It grew to the point where it made sense for us to enter the North American market and that's when Brownsville, Texas came into our site selection process. The overwhelming support helped us make the decision to settle in Brownsville."

"In the long term, the SATA development will be the anchor for the North Brownsville Heavy Manufacturing Campus, which will become a major economic pillar for South Texas," said Jason Hilts, President and CEO of the Brownsville Economic Development Council. "This major development perfectly aligned with our vision of transforming Brownsville into an advanced manufacturing hub and hotbed for suppliers."

North Brownsville Heavy Manufacturing Campus Facts:

350-acre development on newly designated Interstate 169

Will integrate industry via private enterprise, the public sector, the university system, community college and technical training facilities within the campus

Will house a vertically-integrated machining-foundry-forging

operation by 2020

Plans to include an aluminum die cast operation, large plastic injection molder, distribution center and apprenticeship training center with an emphasis on machinists

Development has potential to create 4,000 jobs in a 10-year period

Jamba Headquarters is a relocation. A TEF grant of $800,000 has been extended to Jamba, Inc.

"Nothing is sweeter than another company moving its headquarters to the Lone Star State," said Abbott. "Companies like Jamba relocate to Texas because of our prosperous economic environment, skilled workforce and low cost of owning and operating a franchise. I am proud to welcome Jamba to Texas as they continue to grow their brand through franchises across Texas, the United States and the world."